Dental flxgger



(Numdam j H]:". J. RICHARDS.

DBNTAL-PL'UGGER. y No. 494,227. VPatented'Mar. 28, 1893 TH: 'wams neas au, PHoTo'mrHo., wAsHmmaN. D1

3 is adetached detail View of the holder.

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FRANK J. RICHARDS, or WILLIAMsPoR'r, PENNSYLVANIA.

DENTAL PLUGGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 494,227, dated March 28, 1893.

Application filed J une 30,1892. Serial No. 438.603. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. RICHARDS, a citizen'of the United States, residing at Williamsport, in the countyof Lycoming and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Dental Plugger, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in dental pluggers, and has special reference to the holder for the condensing points,whereby a direct blow maybe given in a curved direction, the same being fully described hereinafter in connection with the drawings, and speciiicallypointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of a plugger embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of that portion of the plugger which bears my improvement. Fig. Fig. 4 is a similar View of the striking pin.

The plugger which is shown in the drawings, to illustrate the application of my invention, is of the class known as hand-pluggers, but my improvement is equally applicable to pluggers which are used in connection with dental-engines, and which are operated by electricity, rc., the invention lying in the tool-holder and manner of mounting and operating the same. Therefore, the details of construction of that portion of the plugger, Which is illustrated in the drawings, referring to the operation of the plunger, dac., will not be described herein.

A designates the casing of the plugger, the section ct of which forms the handle, said handle-section being covered by the tubular capsection ct', through which projects the plunger B. The end of the plunger is provided with a tool-socket b, provided with screwthreads near its bottom, this feature being found in all the ordinary pluggers now in use, and being designed to receive the condensingpoint, not shown in my improvement in connection with this portion of the instrument.

In the socket l) fits a striking-pin C, having a flattened head c, and a screw-threaded tip c', to engage the screw-threaded portion of the socket. This pin may, if preferred, be provided with the socket, to receive the screwthreaded end of the plunger, but the construction shown in the drawings is adopted as the most practical, and as allowing my improvement to be applied to the pluggers now in use. A tapered sheath D ts over the projecting end of the plunger and screws into the outer end of the cap, above described, the head upon the extremity of the striking-pin being located close to the outer end of the sheath. In the end of the sheath screws a curved guide-tip E, which may comprise any desired portion of a circle, from an octant to a quadrant, the length of the arc being determined by the requirements of the particular case, and in this tip iits and operates the holder F, similar in shape to the tip, namely, an arc of a true circle, and slightly longer than the same. The inner or rear end of the holder is tlattened to form a headY f, which is located within the sheath, in contact lwith the head upon the extremity of the striking-pin. The condensing-point G lits in a socket g, in the end of the holder, or may be formed as a part of the holder, as preferred, the latter form being shown in the detail view, Fig. 3.

The operation ofk the improved plugger is similar to that of others now in use. In the case of the hand instrument shown in the drawings, the condensing point is pressed against the filling, thus repressing the point and compressing an operating spring, notshown, within the casing, whereupon said spring, at a given point, is released and the plunger is given a forward impetus which gives the eifect of a blow upon the rear end of the holder. The holder and tip 'being shaped as described, in accordance with the arc of a circle, the holder is capable of a free longitudinal movement, and a blow upon its rear end has the same effect as a similar blow upon the rear end of a straight holder.

The utility of this improvement in connection with the art of dentistry need not be described at length herein. Brieiiy, it enables the operator, in filling rear teeth or those which are difficult to reach, as when the cavity is in the rear side of a tooth or can only be reached from the rear side, to condense the filling squarely into place by an impact in the direction in which the filling is to be forced, the same being accomplished with less discomfort to the patient and great-er ease to the operator. The condensing-point which I have shown in connection with my invention is also curved to correspond With the curve of the holder, thereby bringing all of the parts in the line of the bloW. A straight condensing-point may be used.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with a straight plunger, a striking pin fitting in a socket in the end of said plunger, a curved guide tip E and a curved holder mounted in said guide tip With its inner end in the path of the striking pin, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with a straight plunger, and an inclosing casing, of a tapered sheath fitted to the end of the casing to inclose the end of the plunger, a striking pin fitting in a socket in the end of the plunger, acurved tip fitted in the reduced end of said sheath, and a curved holder, slidably fitted in the tip with its inner end in the path of the striking-pin, substantially as specified. f

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afxed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK J. RICHARDS.

Witnesses:

CLARENCE E. SPROUT, FREDERICK G. KINYoN. 

